the many faces of Jürgen Klopp

[xiaolan]

Jürgen Klopp knew we had met before but, at Liverpool’s training ground last month, he could not recall the exact setting of our first interview. The answer made him groan. Five years ago this month in Dortmund, 10 days before the 2013 Champions League final at Wembley, Klopp had been in a sparkling mood. As he prepared to lead Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich in an all-German battle for European football’s greatest prize, he offered engaging insights into his managerial style while urging the neutral fan to support his team. “If you want the new story, the special story, it must be Dortmund,” Klopp said. “You have to be on our side.” Five years on, with neutrals enraptured again as Klopp inspires an often thrilling Liverpool to Saturday’s Champions League final http://www.officialwhitesoxproshop.com/Carlton_Fisk_Jerseyin Kiev against Real Madrid, his charisma was equally obvious. But before Klopp could engage with subjects ranging from football to A. J. Cann Authentic Jersey politics he remembered how Dortmund had conceded the winning goal in the 89th minute against Bayern. “It was too painful,” he said softly. “I’ve cancelled pretty much everything around that game and never watched it back.” He shook his head and repeated one word. “Never.” In that moment it was possible to sense the depth of Klopp’s desire to win the Champions League. He might be the most likable of interviewees but this quest for success drives him. It hurts to have won only one of the six cup finals in which his teams have played. In 2012, in his first, Dortmund beat Bayern 5-2 in the German Cup. He has since lost five in a row. That curious statistic is less interesting than the way in which he galvanises his teams. I also interviewed Marco Reus in 2013 and the Dortmund forward responded simply when asked how Klopp helped the team. “He makes us happy,” Reus said. In a more layered way Andy Robertson, the Liverpool left-back who has been a revelation since Klopp signed him from Hull 11 months ago, told me last week how “the gaffer uses humour http://www.nflbillsofficialauthentic.com/Nike-Marshall-Newhouse-Jersey.html very cleverly. If he feels the lads are uptight or things aren’t going our way he’ll relieve the tension. He’ll crack a joke or you’ll Brandon Moss Youth jersey hear his big laugh. He’s a fantastic manager who knows exactly what to do and when to do it. His personality is so good that when you see him on the touchline you just want to run for him. You want to tackle for him, you want to do well for him. But, most of all, he’s a calming influence.” Klopp’s calm in a one-to-one setting, even more than his humour or warmth, remains my clearest impression from our interviews. Rather than a joker or cheerleader, he is a bright thinker with an even deeper emotional intelligence which enables him to connect powerfully with people. He spoke so fondly of his players, I wondered if he felt like a father to some of them? “A stepfather,” he exclaimed before becoming more reflective. “Look, I am an absolutely normal guy and sometimes I want be their friend. Seattle Seahawks">http://www.artsneed.com/sports/nfl-jerseys/seattle-seahawks">Seattle Seahawks Sometimes I have to be a teacher. It’s not so difficult to find a moment to be a friend or … well … [Klopp laughed] a North Korean dictator,” he exclaimed before becoming more reflective. “My biggest skill is common sense. It’s important they understand football is only one part of life. Coming into a Champions League final you tell James Harrison Youth jerseythem to appreciate this moment. Of course they are young and considered superstars. But in big moments they need help to find calm. It’s not important if you won or lost the last game, if you played well or kicked the ball like your grandmother. I need to help settle their heads and hearts before such a massive match.” In Dortmund Klopp had smiled when hearing Reus’s quote about happiness. “What they discover when they leave the club is that we have a very special dressing room. The secret of a manager like Alex Ferguson comes through when you hear what former players say about him. They can have had boots flying in their face like David Beckham but they still love the idea they were coached by him. That’s the biggest honour or accolade you can give to a coach.http://facebookhitlist.com/profiles/blogs/zealand-jersey
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